Designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim have been experimenting with a see-now-buy-now model for Monse: shoot the lookbook early, show it to buyers, and it’s ready to shop in stores when the collection images are released to the public. “By the time the images are out, it doesn’t become jaded, and the look of it is ready to be purchased,” Garcia explained. The spring 2022 images were captured in October 2021, just a few weeks after their resort 2022 runway show in September. Fans of that collection will be pleasantly surprised to see the sporty motifs continue through here.
The ’90s and ’00s revivals are currently inescapable, but Monse’s double-waisted cargo pants—especially the orange pair printed with a collage of abstract botanicals—feel like a fresh addition. Styled with both bikini tops and bra tops, they were inspired by a photo of Jennifer Aniston circa her Brad Pitt days. They mesh well with the other key throughline of the collection: athleisure. They introduced cutout sports bras for pre-fall 2021, but the offering has expanded to include logoed leggings, long-sleeve crop tops, and a black dress inspired by the bra. (Some of these are available at Equinox).
You can always count on Kim and Garcia to add in a playful detail, and this time around it came courtesy of a collaboration with artist Lan Truong. The pink and blue sweaters with a trompe l’oeil black bikini top and two knits depicting an egg and avocado on toast are both adaptations of Truong’s designs.
It’s all as sporty as Monse has ever been, but it wasn’t without some formality; see the long shorts adorned with copper sequins, or a wedding guest-ready dress in the same print as the cargo pants. Even at this end of the spectrum, it’s all about ease.
